Difference between revisions of "Istanbul Timeline"

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<div style="float:right">__TOC__</div>
 
<div style="float:right">__TOC__</div>
''' 1941:''' Agop Tomurcuk, is born in Istanbul, Turkey.<font color=blue><sup>1</sup></font color=blue> [[file:Agop Tomurcuk.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Agop Tomurcuk]]<br>
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''' 1941:''' Agop Tomurcuk, is born in Istanbul, Turkey.<font color=blue><sup>1</sup></font color=blue> [[file:Agop Tomurcuk.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Agop Tomurcuk]]
 
'''1950:''' At age 9, Agop starts working as an apprentice at the K. Zildjian factory in Istanbul.<font color=blue><sup>1</sup></font color=blue><br>
 
'''1950:''' At age 9, Agop starts working as an apprentice at the K. Zildjian factory in Istanbul.<font color=blue><sup>1</sup></font color=blue><br>
 
'''1977:''' After 27 years, Agop becomes well-skilled in the cymbal-making process and becomes a master cymbal smith.<font color=blue><sup>1</sup></font color=blue><br>  The K. Zildjian facility ceases operation this year, moving to Meductic, New Brunswick, Canada, then under ownership by Zildjian, which later becomes the Sabian factory.<font color=blue><sup>2</sup></font color=blue>  <br>  
 
'''1977:''' After 27 years, Agop becomes well-skilled in the cymbal-making process and becomes a master cymbal smith.<font color=blue><sup>1</sup></font color=blue><br>  The K. Zildjian facility ceases operation this year, moving to Meductic, New Brunswick, Canada, then under ownership by Zildjian, which later becomes the Sabian factory.<font color=blue><sup>2</sup></font color=blue>  <br>  
'''1980:''' Agop becomes partners with his friend Mehmet Tamdeğer, and starts a partnership for cymbal production. This year Zilciler Kollektif Şti. (English: Cymbal maker Collective) is started, initially using a stenciled, painted Zilciler logo on the cymbals.<font color=blue><sup>1</sup></font color=blue><br>
+
'''1980:''' Agop becomes partners with his friend Mehmet Tamdeğer.<font color=blue><sup>2</sup></font color=blue> (In the 1950s, Tamdeğer works in the K. Zilcan factory in Istanbul. At the age of nine, he starts to work for Mikhail Zilcan, grandson of Kerope Zilcan, after whom the Zildjian K series is named.)<font color=blue><sup>3</sup></font color=blue> 
 +
 
 +
Agop's and Mehmet's cymbal production begins this year as Zilciler Kollektif Şti. (English: Cymbal maker Collective), initially using a stenciled, painted Zilciler logo on the cymbals.<font color=blue><sup>1</sup></font color=blue> [[file:Mehmet Tamdeğer.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Mehmet Tamdeğer (left, with Elvin Jones)]]<br>
 
<Gallery>
 
<Gallery>
file:Zilciler 1.jpg|Zilciler Heavy Ride
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file:Zilciler 1.jpg|Zilciler Heavy Ride profile
file:Zilciler 2.jpg|Zilciler Heavy Ride
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file:Zilciler 2.jpg|Zilciler Heavy Ride top
file:Zilciler 3.jpg|Zilciler Heavy Ride
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file:Zilciler 3.jpg|Zilciler Heavy Ride company engraving
file:Zilciler 4.jpg|Zilciler Heavy Ride
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file:Zilciler 4.jpg|Zilciler Heavy Ride model/size stamp
file:Zilciler 5.jpg|Zilciler Heavy Ride
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file:Zilciler 5.jpg|Zilciler Heavy Ride bell undersize with signature
file:Zilciler 6.jpg|Zilciler Heavy Ride
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file:Zilciler 6.jpg|Zilciler Heavy Ride bottom
 
</Gallery><br>
 
</Gallery><br>
'''1982:''' Zilciler starts importing cymbals to the U.S.A.. Around this time, the name is changed to "Istanbul". Drummer Mel Lewis becomes the company's first endorser.<font color=blue><sup>1</sup></font color=blue><br>
+
'''1982:''' Zilciler starts importing cymbals to the U.S.A.. Around this time, the name is changed to "Istanbul". Drummer Mel Lewis becomes the company's first endorser.<font color=blue><sup>1</sup></font color=blue>
 +
 
 +
(Mehmet Istanbul states that Istanbul cymbals didn't reach American shores until 1984.)<font color=blue><sup>3</sup></font color=blue>
 +
 
 +
<Gallery>
 +
File:Istanbul pre-split stencil logo.jpg|Stenciled, painted logo
 +
File:Istanbul 22" Crash Ride 1.jpg|Later logo
 +
File:Mehmet and Agop signatures under bell.jpg|Mehmet and Agop's signature under bell
 +
</Gallery>
 +
 
 
'''1984:''' Sarkis Tomurcuk, Agop's eldest son, joins the company. He works alongside the 9 or 10 others employees to learn the cymbal-making process.<font color=blue><sup>1</sup></font color=blue><br>  
 
'''1984:''' Sarkis Tomurcuk, Agop's eldest son, joins the company. He works alongside the 9 or 10 others employees to learn the cymbal-making process.<font color=blue><sup>1</sup></font color=blue><br>  
 
'''1986:''' Arman Tomurcuk, Agop's younger son, starts working with Istanbul as well.<font color=blue><sup>1</sup></font color=blue><br>
 
'''1986:''' Arman Tomurcuk, Agop's younger son, starts working with Istanbul as well.<font color=blue><sup>1</sup></font color=blue><br>
 
'''1992:''' In 1992, Arman completes his education in England and returns to Istanbul. In 1993, he attends the Musikmesse trade show, and helps to expand the company’s distribution to 30 countries worldwide.<font color=blue><sup>1</sup></font color=blue><br>
 
'''1992:''' In 1992, Arman completes his education in England and returns to Istanbul. In 1993, he attends the Musikmesse trade show, and helps to expand the company’s distribution to 30 countries worldwide.<font color=blue><sup>1</sup></font color=blue><br>
'''1996:''' Agop Tomurcuk passes away. Sarkis (now the chief cymbal-smith), and Arman leave the company, forming Istanbul Zilciler, today known as "Istanbul Agop".<font color=blue><sup>1</sup></font color=blue><br>
+
'''1996:''' Agop Tomurcuk passes away. Sarkis (now the chief cymbal-smith), and Arman leave the company, forming Istanbul Zilciler, today known as "Istanbul Agop", in 1997. <font color=blue><sup>1</sup></font color=blue> Agop's partner forms his own company - Istanbul Mehmet.<br>
  
 +
'''1981 / 1982 - 1996:''' This era of Istanbul cymbals is often referred to as "Pre-Split" Istanbul by drummers.
  
 
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Sources:<br>
 
Sources:<br>
<font color=blue><sup>1</sup></font color=blue> [https://istanbulcymbals.com/about-history.html istanbulcymbals.com]<br>
+
<font color=blue><sup>1</sup></font color=blue> [https://istanbulcymbals.com/about-history.html istanbulcymbals.com] (retrieved December 6, 2025)<br>
<font color=blue><sup>2</sup></font color=blue> [https://www.black.net.nz/avedis/NAK.html Canadian K timeline]<br>
+
<font color=blue><sup>2</sup></font color=blue> [https://www.black.net.nz/avedis/NAK.html Canadian K timeline](retrieved December 6, 2025)<br>
 +
<font color=blue><sup>3</sup></font color=blue> [https://www.istanbulmehmet.com/ac/about istanbulmehmet.com] (retrieved December 6, 2025)<br>

Latest revision as of 02:53, 7 December 2025

1941: Agop Tomurcuk, is born in Istanbul, Turkey.1

Agop Tomurcuk

1950: At age 9, Agop starts working as an apprentice at the K. Zildjian factory in Istanbul.1
1977: After 27 years, Agop becomes well-skilled in the cymbal-making process and becomes a master cymbal smith.1
The K. Zildjian facility ceases operation this year, moving to Meductic, New Brunswick, Canada, then under ownership by Zildjian, which later becomes the Sabian factory.2
1980: Agop becomes partners with his friend Mehmet Tamdeğer.2 (In the 1950s, Tamdeğer works in the K. Zilcan factory in Istanbul. At the age of nine, he starts to work for Mikhail Zilcan, grandson of Kerope Zilcan, after whom the Zildjian K series is named.)3

Agop's and Mehmet's cymbal production begins this year as Zilciler Kollektif Şti. (English: Cymbal maker Collective), initially using a stenciled, painted Zilciler logo on the cymbals.1

Mehmet Tamdeğer (left, with Elvin Jones)



1982: Zilciler starts importing cymbals to the U.S.A.. Around this time, the name is changed to "Istanbul". Drummer Mel Lewis becomes the company's first endorser.1

(Mehmet Istanbul states that Istanbul cymbals didn't reach American shores until 1984.)3

1984: Sarkis Tomurcuk, Agop's eldest son, joins the company. He works alongside the 9 or 10 others employees to learn the cymbal-making process.1
1986: Arman Tomurcuk, Agop's younger son, starts working with Istanbul as well.1
1992: In 1992, Arman completes his education in England and returns to Istanbul. In 1993, he attends the Musikmesse trade show, and helps to expand the company’s distribution to 30 countries worldwide.1
1996: Agop Tomurcuk passes away. Sarkis (now the chief cymbal-smith), and Arman leave the company, forming Istanbul Zilciler, today known as "Istanbul Agop", in 1997. 1 Agop's partner forms his own company - Istanbul Mehmet.

1981 / 1982 - 1996: This era of Istanbul cymbals is often referred to as "Pre-Split" Istanbul by drummers.


Sources:
1 istanbulcymbals.com (retrieved December 6, 2025)
2 Canadian K timeline(retrieved December 6, 2025)
3 istanbulmehmet.com (retrieved December 6, 2025)